Preventative care is covered under health insurance as one of the stipulations of the Affordable Care Act. However, what constitutes preventative care is often questioned. Once you know what counts as preventative care, attending these screenings and visits may help you stay healthy. Knowing how the visits will be covered by your health insurance plan may help you to enjoy more peace of mind.

What Is Preventative Care?

Disease screenings and immunizations are considered to be preventative care. Wellness visits that occur when you are healthy are considered to be part of preventative care. These include annual check-ups and woman’s wellness. Under some plans, the entire costs of visits or screenings may be covered, while others may cover a portion of costs.

Immunizations and screenings that are considered to be preventative care include:

Blood pressure screenings

Diabetes screenings

Pediatric screenings for development

Flu shots

MMR shots

HPV vaccines

Hepatitis shots

Tetanus shots

STI counseling and screenings

Receiving Preventative Care

When you visit a doctor’s office to receive preventative care, you should make sure that you understand exactly what will be covered. In some cases, there may be limits on the amount of preventative care that you can receive each year. If you go over the number of visits, you may have to pay for preventative care. There may also be some costs that are not included, such as lab work. If something is discovered that indicates a potential issue, additional testing and treatment will not be considered preventative.

How Often Are Preventative Visits Needed?

Preventative visits are usually only needed every year or less often. If there are issues that predispose a person to certain conditions, doctors may wish to check on these annually, but usually not more often. Health insurance plans generally allow for preventative visits according to what is normally recommended, so visits may not be covered if they are attended more frequently. Check with your insurance company before attending preventative visits to be sure that services will be covered.

If You Are Charged for Preventative Care

Insurance plans cover costs that are considered customary, so sometimes there are issues where insurance doesn’t cover all of the costs detailed. If you are billed for services that you believe should have been covered, call the doctor’s office to make sure that there was not an error causing services to be viewed as therapeutic. Check with the insurance company to make sure that there were no errors causing claims to be denied. If there are errors, the charges may be waived or you may be reimbursed.

If you need health insurance to help you cover the costs of preventative care, call 704-527-4220 today.

Cancer occurs in the body when abnormal cells divide and multiply, invading tissues and causing damage. The exact causes of cancer are not completely understood and cases are often associated with a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and behaviors. However, controlling lifestyle factors that contribute to cancer development has shown to have some effectiveness in preventing cancer development.

1. Avoid Tobacco

Tobacco use and smoke exposure have been linked to the development of many different types of cancers. Any of the tissues and organs that regularly come into contact with chewed or smoked tobacco, such as the mouth, throat, lungs, and larynx are at high risk for cancer development due to the carcinogens in the products. Quitting use of tobacco products and avoiding smoke exposure can help to begin decreasing cancer risks almost immediately.

2. Eat Conscientiously

Many fruits and vegetables contain anti-cancer agents that can help to protect cells. Eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed meats, which have been associated with increased cancer risks, can help to keep the body healthy. Limiting alcohol intake has also been shown to reduce risks of certain cancers. Eating conscientiously will have immune boosting benefits, as well, which may help to ward off infections and ailments that can lead to cancer development.

3. Protect Against Sun Dangers

Exposure to UV rays can contribute to the development of skin cancer. To mitigate risks, sunscreen has shown to have some impact, but staying out of direct sunlight when the sun’s rays are the strongest and covering up exposed skin are even more effective. Since tanning beds have shown to pose the same risks as natural sunlight, avoiding tanning beds can also help to reduce cancer risks.

4. Stay Active

Physical activity helps to keep the blood flowing and the cardiovascular system healthy, allowing oxygen and nutrients to be distributed to the tissues and organs of the body. Regular physical activity can also help to maintain a healthy weight, reducing cancer risks that have been associated with obesity. Approximately 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity is recommended for optimal health and wellness.

5. Get Screened Regularly

Both self examinations and screenings by a medical professional can help to reduce the risks of being seriously affected by cancer. By regularly checking skin for abnormal marks or moles and breasts for lumps or changes, you are more likely to detect certain types of cancer early. By attending regular check-ups and recommended screenings, your doctor may catch other types of cancers in early stages and take action quickly.

Some preventative screenings may even be covered by insurance! For information about obtaining health insurance to help you reduce your cancer risks, call today.